The Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV is one of the best rated makeup primers that contains UV protection. Read more to find out why this product is loved by so many makeup lovers not only in Japan, but all around the world!

All my life, I have tried many Japanese sunscreens that were more for general purposes, never ones that are made specifically to use as a makeup primer. Since I have been applying a lot more makeup on top of my regular sunscreen recently, such as the Biore SPF 50+ UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try a sunscreen made specifically for makeup. I have heard a lot about this product before, but I haven’t gotten a chance to get my hands on it. I’m happy to say that I’ve finally got a chance to try it out!

 

There are two kinds of Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV, Clear (01) and White (02). However, this time I am going to be reviewing this time, the Clear (01) version.

 

 

About Canmake Tokyo

Canmake Tokyo, owned and founded by IDA laboratories, is one of the most famous affordable cosmetic brands in Japan, and is known for their affordable makeup products that are also very high in quality. Canmake’s concept is known to be “fun,” “cute,” and “sparkly,” and is loved not only by teenagers, but people of all ages, as well as professional makeup artists. 

 

Quick Facts about The Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV (01 Clear)

 

The Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV contains great moisturizing ingredients to create a formula that would work well as a makeup base/primer. Not only does it include moisturizing ingredients, but SPF 50+ / PA++++ that would help protect your skin for harsh sunlight. 

According to Canmake Tokyo, this Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV is a moisturizing makeup base with UV protection that can also be used as a sunscreen alone. Some of its key characteristics of this product mentioned by Canmake Tokyo are that it’s paraben free, alcohol free, oil free and has no scent.

 

Ingredients: Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Zinc Oxide, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Diisostearyl Malate, Aluminum Hydroxide, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Hyaluronic Acid, Alpha-Glucan, Phytic Acid, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Glucosyl Ceramide, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi (Job’s Tears) Seed Oil, Morus Alba Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Seed Extract, Silver Oxide, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract

 

Skin type: For all types of skin

Texture: Lighter than gel, watery, smooth

Fragrance: None

Packaging: 11.7 x 4.6 x 2.3 / 40g

 

 

 

My Initial Impression

I am very picky about the things that go on my skin, so it’s important for me to find sunscreen that isn’t going to feel too uncomfortable. However, applying the Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV on my skin, it did not feel like it was drying or too oily, nor did it feel like it was heavy at all. 

On the packaging of the product, it mentioned that I should use the sunscreen of my desired amount. So I decided to use two times the amount of sunscreen that I usually use for my face, which is about one finger length or so worth of sunscreen, just because the hole that the product comes out from is smaller than a typical bottle of sunscreen. 

The Feel

One thing that I look for in every sunscreen is if it feels sticky or not, and I’d say that this product is not sticky at all. It spreads onto my skin very smoothly and sinks into my skin quite quickly without any uncomfortable feelings. Also, because of its thinness and liquidy texture, it does not feel like my pores are suffering from being able to “breathe.” So even if I were able to build up the product, there’s no problem doing so. Another thing that I have noticed when applying this product on my face is that since it doesn’t have any alcohol in it, it does not sting my eyes, which is a problem that I often come across when using other sunscreen brands. As for the looks, just applying this product to my bare skin helps give it that natural looking glow, making my skin look great and healthy. 

Using as a Primer

As this product is specifically made for using it as a primer, I tried applying my everyday makeup after I applied the Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV. I love how this product is colorless, because oftentimes, putting on makeup with sunscreen that has a whtie cast makes my face look unnatural and funky.

My everyday makeup on my skin consists of a little bit of concealer, eyeshadow, and blush. Doing my first step, putting on my concealer and blending it all in, I felt like the product was sticking onto my face better because of the moisturizing effect that the sunscreen gel has. My concealer did not streak or become cakey at all. Secondly, I put on my eyeshadow, which is usually just a little bit brown colored shadow and a hint of glitter. When I apply brown eyeshadow, I like to use a brush, but I’ve not noticed that you may need to apply a translucent powder beforehand since the sunscreen prevents you from blending it all out.

However, when it comes to applying glitter directly on top of the sunscreen, I have to say, it helps keep the glitter on my eyelids pretty darn good. Not much glitter fallout, which means less cleaning I had to do. Thirdly, I applied my cream blush onto my face. Since I’m a sucker for blushes, I like to put an excessive amount of blush on my cheeks. I applied my blush by dabbing it onto my cheeks with my fingers, and I think that it matched very well with the Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV, as it blended in with my skin real nicely. Overall, I’m pretty happy with how my makeup turned out, because my skin looks glowy and healthier, an extra boost to my natural everyday makeup look. And the best thing was that I didn’t have to worry about applying highlighter since my skin was already glowing thanks to the sunscreen primer!

UV Protection and Effectiveness

Leaving the Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV on my skin for about 10 hours, my skin doesn’t feel irritated nor uncomfortable, with no signs of crackling or making my skin feel tight. Something else that I realized about this sunscreen after keeping it on my skin for a while is how moisturizing it is. It is easy for me to tell apart from which area of the skin I have applied the Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV, and where I have not. 

According to Canmake Tokyo, you can take off this product with facial soap or body soap, unless you have makeup on top of the sunscreen. I think that this is a feature that I really love about because even if there are days when I don’t feel like wearing makeup at all but still want a natural glow to my face, I am able to apply the product and wash it off easily. 

Since this product is a makeup base with UV protection, many of you may be wondering if it actually protects your skin. I think that this product works greatly to protect your skin on a daily basis, such as going to work or going to school, but to use this product for vacation and staying in the sun at the beach, this is a no go. One of the biggest issues with this product is that it does not say anywhere on the website that it is waterproof or sweatproof. Remember, this sunscreen is made specifically to use a makeup base, so it would be difficult to guarantee that this product would protect you from getting a sunburn after being in the sun for 15 hours, on a blinding summer day.

 

 

 

The Pros and Cons

Overall, there are so many things that I love about this product, whether it is the feels and looks when it is applied to my skin.

The Pros:

• Does not have any alcohol or fragrance
• Oil free
• Colorless
• Does not sting your eyes
• Moisturizing (Will help keep your skin moist and foundation (makeup) to stay on longer)
• Has SPF 50+ / PA++++
• Difficult to get a sunburn using this product
• Makes the skin look glowy and healthy
• Good for everyday use/light makeup
• You can use it for both your face and body
• Very smooth and watery, but not to the point that it would start dripping easily

The Cons:

• It may seem glittery to some people
• It may feel like the product would come off easily
• It may become flakey (depends on the environment you live in, as well as the condition of your skin)
• Not waterproof or sweatproof (meaning that you may need to reapply quite often)
• May not be great for occasion where you may stay under the sun for a long time
• Small packaging

 

 

The Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV Beauty Review, Clear (01) vs. White (02)

As I previously mentioned, there are two different kinds of versions you can buy this in, one being the “clear (01)” version, and the other being “white (02).” There are no differences in texture and usability whatsoever, the only thing that distincts the product from one another is the shade of it. 

Although the clear version may be something that anyone can use, I cannot guarantee that the white version is for everyone. The white version has a slight visibility of a white cast, but nothing too crazy, so if you have an uneven skin tone, the white (02) version may help even it out.

 

 

Final Thoughts

This product would definitely be a product that I would repurchase again, just because it works so well as a primer for your makeup because of its smooth texture. I definitely think that this product is great if you are using this to put on light makeup for school, work or to run a short errand. The only thing I may watch out for is using this product on a hot summer day. I would recommend using this product during colder seasons when your skin is in bigger need of moisture. 

If you are willing to try out a new makeup primer with UV protection, this might be a great affordable product for you to buy, especially if you are really looking for something that would help give your skin that natural glow, which is something that many sunscreens can’t do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Kaitlyn C.